Campanula plant named &#39;PKMM03&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKMM03’, characterized by its upright, compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to short, upright and stiff stems; vigorous growth habit, with no need for chemical growth retardation; higher number of flowers per plant; many cuttings on each stock plant; no need for vernalization for flower induction; and violet colored flowers.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Campanula medium

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PKMM03’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCampanula plant, botanically known as Campanula medium, commonly knownas Canterbury Bells, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKMM03’.

The new Campanula, ‘PKMM03’, is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus, Denmark. Theobjective of the breeding program is to develop a new Campanula cultivarwith upright, compact plant form and unique colored flowers.

The new Campanula cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor in 2011 in Søhus, Denmark. The femaleor seed parent is a cultivar from the proprietary breeding line ofCampanula medium designated 45.11.1422 clone 17 (unpatented). The maleor pollen parent is a cultivar from the proprietary breeding line ofCampanula medium designated 45.07.0908BY (unpatented). The new Campanula‘PKMM03’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in April 2011 ina controlled environment in Søhus, Denmark. The inventor selected‘PKMM03’ on the basis of its upright, compact plant habit, plant height,violet flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula cultivar by terminal cuttingswas first performed in April 2011 in Søhus, Denmark, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproducestrue-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PKMM03’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PKMM03’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright, compact plant habit;

2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to short, upright and stiffstems;

3. Vigorous growth habit, with no need for chemical growth retardation;

4. Many cuttings on each stock plant;

5. No need for vernalization for flower induction; and

6. Violet colored flowers.

Plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKMM03’ differ primarily from plants ofthe parental cultivars, in the following characteristics:

1. Colour—female pink—offspring purple

2. Compactness—male vigorous—offspring compact

Side-by-side comparisons were conducted by the inventor in Søhus,Denmark, among plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKMM03’ and plants of themost similar commercial cultivar, the Campanula medium designated‘PKMM01’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,910). Plants of the newCampanula medium ‘PKMM03’ differ from plants of Campanula medium‘PKMM01’, primarily in the following characteristic:

1. Plants of the ‘PKMM03’ have violet petals whereas plants of ‘PKMM01’have purple petals.

2. Plants of ‘PKMM03’ have a smaller number of lateral branches than‘PKMM01.

3. Plants of ‘PKMM03’ have a smaller number of flowers and buds perplant.

4. Plants of ‘PKMM03’ have longer leaf length than plants of PKMM01.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Campanula ‘PKMM03’, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribe the actual colors of ‘PKMM03’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMM03’, as grown in a 10.5 cm pot at 11 weeks of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of a typical mature flowerproduced by ‘PKMM03’ at 11 weeks of age.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up side perspective view of a typical bud producedby ‘PKMM03’ at 11 weeks of age.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view perspective of the upper surface of atypical basal leaf, produced by ‘PKMM03’ at 11 weeks of age.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view perspective of the upper surface of atypical apical leaf, produced by ‘PKMM03’ at 11 weeks of age.

FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMM03’ compared with a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMM01’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKMM03’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newCampanula ‘PKMM03’ as grown in a heated and lighted, glass-coveredgreenhouse in Søhus, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice where day and nighttemperatures in the greenhouse range from 18-22° C. Ambient light levelsused while growing plants of ‘PKMM03’ are+100 Wm². Plants of ‘PKMM03’are grown with 18 hour long day photoperiodic treatments from the thirdweek. Propagation and young plants are exposed to 10 hour shortphotoperiodic treatments. No growth retardants used.

The age of the ‘PKMM03’ plants described is 11 weeks old and grown in10.5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were taken during January2011. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, except where general colors ofordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Campanula medium.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unpatented cultivar from the            proprietary breeding line of Campanula medium designated            45.09.1180 clone 17 (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented cultivar from the            proprietary breeding line of Campanula medium designated            45.07.0908BY (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 15 days at 18 to 21° C.            in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched, fibrous.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual, herbaceous plant with upright, compact plant            habit. Produced as potted plant. Campanulate flowers in            racemes. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at            every node.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 11 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 10.5 cm pots.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth rate.        -   Plant height (from pot rim to top of plant plane).—About 18            cm to 22 cm.        -   Plant spread (width).—About 23 cm to 26 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Habit: Basal spreading branches and            central upright stem when flowering. Quantity: About 10 to            13 per plant. Leaves per Lateral Branch: About 4 to 8.            Length (including flowers): 9 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Internode Length: 7-15 mm.        -   Stem.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright and            spreading. Texture: Pubescent. Color: RHS 145A —            Yellow-green.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Basal leaves.—Arrangement: Single. Overall shape:            Elliptical. Apex shape: Rounded. Base shape: Cordate to            truncate. Length: About 7 cm to 11 cm. Width: About 3 cm to            6 cm. Margin: Crenate. Texture (both sides): Velvety.            Pubescence: Very short, stiff hairs on both sides,            hispidulous.        -   Apical (stem) leaves.—Arrangement: Single, alternate.            Overall shape: Oblong, elliptical. Apex shape: Acute. Base            shape: Rosulate. Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Width: About            8-15 mm. Margin: Crenate. Texture (both sides): Velvety.            Pubescence: Very short, stiff hairs on both sides,            hispidulous.        -   Basal & apical leaves.—Mature: Upper surface: Green, RHS            137A. Lower Surface: Green, RHS 137A. Immature: Upper            surface: Green, RHS 137C. Lower Surface: Green, RHS 137C.            Venation: Pattern: Reticulate. Color (upper and lower            surface): Young leaf: Green 137C Mature leaf: Green 137A            Petiole: Basal Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Apical Length: Up            to 1 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Color: RHS 137A, green.            Texture: Slightly Pubescent.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single, large, campanulate            flowers in racemes turning upright to outward, basipetal            flowering habit.        -   Natural flowering season.—June to July. Season can be            extended by long day treatments.        -   Time to flower.—About 8 weeks after planting of rooted            cutting.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant, flowers last about 6 to 10            days; however, longevity of individual flowers is highly            dependent on temperature and light conditions. Flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Slight perfume scent.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: 6 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: 5 cm to            7 cm.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—2 to 4.        -   Number of flowers per lateral stem.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers and buds per plant.—About 20 to 50.        -   Buds.—Length: Up to 20 mm. Diameter: Up to 10 mm. Shape:            Oblong, petals forming a ribbed tube. Rate of opening: 1 to            3 per day. Color: RHS 144D yellow-green.        -   Flowers.—Height: About 35 to 40 mm. Diameter: About 35 to 40            mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single, sympetalous, slightly            corrugated, basally fused campanulate; persistent. Quantity            per flower: 5 Length: Lobes about 12-14 mm Width: About 15            mm to 17 mm. Overall Shape: Sympetalous with acute lobes.            Tip: Acute Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Inside;            silky with thin soft white hairs Outside; shiny.        -   Color (when opening & when fully opened).—Outside bell: tip            RHS N828 violet base RHS N82D violet Grooved line from base            to tip: RHS N82D violet Inside bell: tip RHS N82A violet            base RHS N82D violet Grooved line from base to tip: RHS N82D            violet Fading: Fades to violet RHS 183D greyed-purple later            RHS 199D grey-brown.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Basally fused. Appearance: Pubescent,            Quantity per flower: 5-6 Length: About 14 mm to 17 mm.            Width: About 8 to 12 mm. Overall shape: Ovate. Tip: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Pubescent, short,            soft white hairs. Color (immature): Upper and lower            surfaces: Green, RHS 138A. Color (mature): Upper and lower            surfaces: Green, RHS 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm            Strength: Strong. Color: Green, RHS 138A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: 5, fused until pollen has            shed. Anther: Shape: Lanceolate. Twisting when withering.            Length: About 10-12 mm (just before flowering opening).            Color: Yellow-green RHS 145A (just before flowering opening)            and greyed-orange RHS 164C (when withering). Pollen: Amount:            Plenty. Color: Yellow 11B.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Length: About 23 mm to            27 mm. Stigma: Shape: Fivepartite. Color: Yellow-green RHS            145A. Style: Length: About 20-23 mm. Color: Yellow-green RHS            145A. Ovary: Color: White, RHS 155A.-   Seed/fruit: None observed.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Campanula have exhibited good    tolerance to drought, rain and wind, with low temperature resistance    to 0° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Not tested.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Not tested.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named‘PKMM03’, as illustrated and described herein.